On Monday opportunity comes knocking — literally. That’s when public works and the police department begin knocking on doors in the city’s Opportunity Clean Sweep campaign to tell people about violations and give them a chance to remove abandoned vehicles; clean up trash, junk and debris and clear noxious vegetation and other non-vegetation code enforcement issues such as dilapidated fencing and storage buildings. “It’s been very positive,” Public Works Director Richard Parnell said Wednesday while taking The Spin on a tour to show the news website examples of what the city hopes to get people to voluntarily clean up without facing fines. “A lot of people have called in about pickups and how to get on the list. Several people have said, ‘I want to thank you.’” On Monday public works and the police department go door-to-door throughout the city to let people know they have violations, Parnell said. “We’re here to inform them this is a violation and we’re here to assist them.” If they return and find the problems aren’t taken care of then they will face warning tickets or fines, Parnell said. Opportunity Clean Sweep is an idea by City Manager Paul Sabiston and was endorsed by city council at its Sept. 8 meeting. Since then, public works and the police department have been canvassing the city making lists of violations and the two biggest things the departments have seen are dilapidated storage buildings and fencing. The initiative has already been successful, Parnell said, commenting on a landlord in the 200 block of Monroe Street who had their tenants remove six vehicles from the yard. There is plenty more work to do, Parnell said. During the tour there was a hot tub sitting in the yard, one yard with four boats, places with debris scattered in the yard, a refrigerator propped up against the house and wildly growing vegetation encroaching on the city’s back alleys. While Opportunity Clean Sweep officially ends Oct. 18, Parnell said the effort will most likely extend beyond that. “We’ve got our hands full,” he said, stating earlier in the tour, “I know we’re in for a long process.” Sabiston has been pleased with the early efforts in the initiative, he said in an email earlier this week. “The activity by police and public works has been very high since the end of last week. Initially, it seems like the response by the residents that have received a visit from the police department or code enforcement has been very quick to resolve the problem. It will take some time to cover on foot and car the total area that needs to be covered.” Code enforcement can explain details of the program to the public Tuesday through Thursday and can be reached at 252-533-2844. Public works can also address questions on matters such as the grass cutting and can be reached by calling 252-533-2846.